Iran recently attempted to purchase tens of thousands of magnets to be used for uranium enrichment, which would enable the country to expand its nuclear program, according to experts and diplomats, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.

The new orders for the nuclear-sensitive parts coincides with plans to add thousands of more advanced, second-generation centrifuges that would allow Iran to increase its production of enriched uranium even further, analysts told the U.S. newspaper.

While this is not the first time Iran has sought to buy banned items from foreign vendors, this case is considered unusual because of the order’s specificity and size.